Since a thriller TV present is just pretty much as good as its hopefully satisfying ending, I am nonetheless disillusioned within the finales of those standard collection. Many exhibits have gotten it proper, just like the season 1 finale of Hulu’s Paradise, considered one of my 2025 favorites that leads us proper into season 2 with a intelligent cliffhanger.
Different thriller exhibits have upset viewers with violent outcomes for the principle characters, a refusal to reply each query, or a plot level that does not make sense. There’s an artwork to wrapping up a mysterious story. And it is a disgrace when an ending is extra melodramatic than entertaining, or leaves you scratching your head in confusion reasonably than impressed.
Fairly Little Liars (2010-2017)
After seven seasons, Fairly Little Liars lastly shared who the mysterious stalker “A” was, however the twist was so dangerous I am nonetheless eager about it.
The huge reveal that Charlotte/CeCe Drake (Vanessa Ray) was Charles DiLaurentis was offensive, as this wasn’t the precise strategy to deal with a storyline a couple of transgender character. Somewhat than treating CeCe as an individual, the present turned her right into a stereotype accountable for all of the deaths and hurt precipitated over the previous few years.
With so many crimson herrings, one other character may have been A, and it will have labored. The second a part of the ending was additionally too odd. Whereas nobody anticipated Mona Vanderwaal (Janel Parrish) to out of the blue grow to be an excellent individual, having her hold Alex (Troian Bellisario) and Mary Drake (Andrea Parker) in a dollhouse in France wasn’t plausible.
Lifeless To Me (2019-2022)
I respect the themes of friendship, marriage issues, beginning over, and grief in Netflix’s darkish comedy, however after tuning into Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini) and Jen Harding’s (Christina Applegate) quirky and stunning connection for 3 seasons, the ending did not land properly.
Whereas the present would by no means have a contented ending since Judy had cervical most cancers that she wasn’t going to recuperate from, the conclusion of her arc was the flawed transfer. I did not need to see Judy in a hospital room or hospice mattress, however the Lifeless To Me finale was too miserable.
As an alternative of suggesting that Judy took a ship out in Mexico so she may move away, I wished to see Judy and Jen having enjoyable collectively. You already know what would occur later, so why not give attention to some good instances?
Veronica Mars (2004-2007, 2019)
Each season of the hit 2000s collection finds the sensible and bubbly Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) taking part in detective and serving to folks, however the actual draw is her love triangle with Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring) and Duncan Kane (Teddy Dunn).
Sadly, the season 3 finale, which was the collection ender earlier than the long-awaited 2019 Veronica Mars revival, would not wrap up the love triangle correctly. Since that is what followers wished, it was a giant disappointment. As an alternative of sharing who Veronica picks, her relationship with Piz (Chris Lowell) is the focus.
This romance is not anyplace as compelling as Veronica’s sturdy bond with Logan and Duncan. The ultimate shot of Veronica going for a stroll after casting a vote for Keith (Enrico Colantoni), who’s working for sheriff, feels lackluster. I believe a greater ending would have been Veronica and Logan reunited.
The Affair (2014-2019)
A first-rate instance of a present that begins off sturdy and falters by the tip, The Affair has a finale that does not match the darkish and twisty tone of the remainder of the collection. Somewhat than reuniting two of the principle characters at a marriage, I wished to study extra concerning the homicide of Alison Bailey (Ruth Wilson).
The present explains that Alison’s boyfriend Ben Cruz (Ramon Rodriguez) kills her, however since a collection finale ought to join any leftover dots and ensure viewers have no queries left, I wished extra data. Though Ben will get arrested, it is for assault as a substitute of homicide, and I can not cease questioning why he could not have been apprehended for this crime.
How To Get Away With Homicide (2014-2020)
The How to Get Away With Murder finale has too many twists and foolish storylines to be even remotely lifelike. Whereas I do know the story of a regulation professor and her college students masking up against the law is not relatable, I nonetheless wished some logic right here.
One of many worst moments is discovering out that Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza) pretended to be kidnapped, as this felt too far-fetched. The random deaths of Frank Delfino (Charlie Weber) and Bonnie Winterbottom (Liza Weil) are simply as dangerous. After seeing these sensible college students battle for therefore lengthy, I wished them to begin new lives, however there was no closure.
I am additionally not sure that Annalise Keating’s (Viola Davis) funeral was the precise transfer for the ultimate episode. It will have been higher to see the opposite characters transfer on.
The Following (2013-2015)
When a thriller present is all about one good character searching down a serial killer, peaceable endings is perhaps out of attain. Nonetheless, the collection finale of Kevin Williamson’s The Following was irritating.
When Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) pretends to die however is admittedly in hiding, this finale is supposed to indicate that his journey of on the lookout for villains is ongoing. However because the complete premise facilities on Ryan combating killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), I wished the ending to give attention to a confrontation between the 2 of them.
Since that occurred within the season 2 finale, the story may have wrapped up there as a substitute of giving viewers an pointless third season.
Deadly Attraction (2023)
A TV adaptation of a basic thriller movie is a tall order, however the star energy of Lizzy Caplan and Joshua Jackson makes the Fatal Attraction series engaging. Nevertheless, the ending has a twist that is not plausible.
After watching Alex Forrest (Caplan) stalk Dan Gallagher (Jackson) and make his life depressing, as Glenn Shut did so brilliantly within the film, I wished to see each character in an excellent place.
As an alternative, you study that Beth (Amanda Peet) and Dan’s daughter Ellen (Alyssa Jirrels) has become Alex and is obsessive about a instructor in faculty. This felt like an try to make the present’s ending totally different from the film’s as a substitute of a genuinely compelling conclusion.
Jail Break (2005-2009, 2017)
By the point you get to the Jail Break collection finale, you possibly can’t assist however be bummed that the present was a shadow of its former self. It ought to have wrapped up a lot sooner, as solely a uncommon present can final for therefore lengthy and nonetheless be spectacular.
After pondering the present was over after the ultimate episode of season 4 ended and a 2009 Prison Break movie, the fifth season/revival solely made issues worse. Though it is good to see Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), it is laborious to be enthusiastic about that since he ought to have gotten a contented ending a lot sooner.
The finale looks like a tough try at an motion movie, and it is a reminder that it is okay to finish a collection earlier than it turns into boring or unsatisfying.
9 Excellent Strangers (2021-2025)
Nicole Kidman has played many excellent TV characters and offers an excellent efficiency as Masha Dmitrichenko, a lady who owns a wellness middle, however the season 1 ending would not make a lot sense. Whereas Masha will get arrested for what she’s achieved, she ought to find yourself in jail. However season 2 sees her working one other middle.
Past that, it ought to have additionally been emotional watching Masha have visions of her deceased daughter, however as a substitute of showcasing her trauma in a considerate means, 9 Excellent Strangers leans extra tacky and over-the-top than shifting. The present may have been an amazing adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s 2018 ebook, nevertheless it’s not as gripping.
Killing Eve (2018-2022)
The controversial loss of life in the Killing Eve series finale is hard to recover from. When a sniper kills Villanelle (Jodie Comer), it is unimaginable to agree that this was the precise narrative alternative.
All 4 seasons dive deep into the minds of Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle, who’re two of the strongest feminine TV characters. I could not get sufficient of those clever ladies and wished extra for Villanelle. This thriller collection ending nonetheless upsets me, as they went via a lot collectively, and I do know I am not the one one.
